Say No to Myths

Separating facts from fiction is the first step towards creating awareness about any disease for advancing its prevention, timely diagnosis, and treatment. Myths, as misconceived, misinformed, false, or misleading information about any medical condition, are barriers to achieving the much-needed medical intervention and controlling the spread of diseases. Debunking such myths helps-

• Promote awareness and correct information and knowledge about diseases and
• Curtail the aggravation of the condition and prolongation of the associated discomfort, pain, and agony arising through proper and timely treatment.

This blog discusses a common disease of sinus inflammation, known as Sinusitis and some of the sinus misconceptions that need to be debunked.

Understanding Sinus Health

Sinusitis is a condition of inflammation of the tissue lining in the sinus (cavities or spaces in the forehead, nose, and cheeks that are filled with air). Common colds, virus or bacterial infections, fungi, or allergies cause blockage in the sinuses that get filled with fluid. The pressure of these blocked fluids causes pain in the forehead, face, and nasal congestion.

• Types of sinus infection- Depending on the duration and severity of the infection, it may be Acute (lasts for four weeks or less), Subacute (lasts between four to twelve weeks), Chronic (lasts for a minimum of twelve weeks), or Recurrent (comes and goes four times a year and lasts for less than two weeks each time).
• Symptoms – Some common symptoms are stuffy or runny nose, toothache, pressure or pain on the face, cough, fever, headache, or fatigue.
• Risk factors- People with allergies, asthma, polyps, nasal structural deformity, and weak immune systems are at a higher risk of having this infection.
• Treatment- The treatment and medication (decongestants, pain relievers, intranasal steroids) depend on the type of sinus infection. However, home remedies (humidifiers or vaporizers, steam inhalation, saline nasal spray, warm compress application, or plenty of fluid intake) are the first preference for treating sinusitis. In severe cases, surgery may be recommended.

Sinus surgery treats the disease, relieving symptoms, and related discomfort by removing the blockages and opening the air pathway. The surgery removes nasal polyps, tiny bones, diseased tissue, or tumor growth, blocking the nasal passage. The surgeries to treat sinusitis are-

• Functional Endoscopy Sinus Surgery (FESS): Using an endoscope, an otolaryngologist examines the inside of the nose and sinuses and accordingly conducts the surgery to remove the polyp, bone, or tissue obstructing the drainage of the mucus.
• Sinus Balloon Dilation Procedure: This minimally invasive procedure uses an endoscope and a catheter to guide a balloon to the site of nasal blockage. The balloon at the tip of the catheter is inflated, opening the blocked nasal passage.
• Turbinate Reduction Surgery: Turbinate is a tiny structure in the nose that cleanses the air passing through the nostrils. The surgery reduces the size of the turbinate using a needle-like instrument, thus making space in the nasal passage.

Myths and Facts

The treatment for sinusitis requires awareness of the condition, including but not limited to the causes, symptoms, risks, types, different treatment options, post-operative care, and recovery. Any misconception or misinformation about the condition may hamper its timely treatment and aggravate it. To this end, one must not buy into any myths surrounding the disease. Some of the common myths relating to the disease are-

Myth- Sinusitis is contagious.
Fact- It is not contagious. It is not a communicable disease, but if one gets a viral infection, it can lead to sinusitis.

Myth- Antibiotic is a must for sinusitis.
Fact- Every type of sinus infection does not require an antibiotic. The need for an antibiotic depends on the severity and duration of the condition. Generally, it can be managed by home remedies, rest, nasal spray, or pain medication. Antibiotics are prescribed if the condition does not improve for a week or more.

Myth- Sinusitis can resolve on its own.
Fact- Though a common condition like a common cold, sinusitis requires proper treatment and attention through home remedial measures, medications, and, in chronic or recurrent cases, when these do not work, through surgery.

Myth- Green or yellow mucus is a sign of bacterial infection.
Fact- Green or yellow mucus may be due to the death of infection-fighting white blood cells. It is not the colour but the duration of this mucus drainage that indicates whether it is a sinus or bacterial infection.

Myth- Headaches in the sinus areas are caused by sinus infection.
Fact- Sinus headaches may result from common colds, migraines, allergies, or other neurological conditions.

Myth- Decongestant spray cures breathing problems.
Fact- Decongestant spray temporarily relieves stuffy nose but does not permanently cure breathing. Long-term use of these sprays adversely affects the heart and may lead to other health problems.

Conclusion

Sinusitis, though a common health problem, needs proper attention and care to avoid its aggravation and further complications. It can be managed with home remedies, medications, and, in severe cases, through surgery. Stay away from misleading information and avoid basing your medical decision on myths. It is always wise to stay informed, aware, and updated with the correct information and knowledge about one’s health and related treatment therapies. The right information empowers the right decision.

References

https://houstonadvancedsinus.com/debunking-5-common-myths-about-sinusitis/#:~:text=Myth%202%3A%20%E2%80%9CAll%20Sinus%20headaches%20are%20caused%20by%20sinusitis.%E2%80%9D&text=Common%20cold%20at%20times%20may,lead%20to%20bacterial%20sinus%20infection.&text=Migraine%20attacks%20are%20one%20of,that%20result%20in%20sinus%20headaches.
https://www.healthshots.com/preventive-care/self-care/common-sinus-myths/
https://www.indiatvnews.com/health/here-are-some-common-sinus-myths-you-shouldnt-believe-get-your-facts-correct-latest-health-news-2023-02-21-849197

That constant battle with a stuffy nose, throbbing headache, and facial pain resulting from a sinus infection is exhausting! Sinus infections, or sinusitis, can turn even the brightest day into a foggy nightmare. But fear not! In this article, we will delve into sinus infections and uncover the warning signs and symptoms that should raise your alarm bells.

What is a Sinus Infection?

A sinus infection occurs when the sinuses, the air-filled cavities in the skull, become inflamed and infected. Multiple factors, including allergies, viral or bacterial infections, and structural abnormalities in the nasal passages, can cause this infection. The symptoms may include facial pain and pressure, nasal congestion, thick nasal discharge, headache, fatigue, and cough.

When Should You Seek Medical Help for Sinus Infection? 

While mild sinus infections can often be managed at home with over-the-counter remedies, there are certain situations where it is vital to consult a doctor. If symptoms persist for multiple days, worsen after initial improvement, or are accompanied by high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, or vision changes, it is crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible. A doctor’s evaluation can help determine the severity, type, and appropriate treatment for the sinus infection.

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Complications  

In some cases, a severe sinus infection might lead to complications that require immediate medical attention. These complications may include spreading the infection to nearby structures, such as the eyes or brain. Warning signs and symptoms of complications include severe headache, worsening facial pain, swelling around the eyes, double vision, confusion, and high fever.

What to Expect During a Doctor’s Visit 

During a doctor’s visit for a sinus infection, the healthcare provider will typically start by conducting a physical examination. This examination may involve checking for tenderness over the sinuses and examining the nasal passages. In some cases, additional diagnostic tests and procedures, such as imaging studies or nasal endoscopy, may be recommended to confirm the diagnosis and identify the underlying cause of the infection. After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor will discuss the appropriate treatment options.

Coping with Sinus Infection 

In addition to medical treatment, multiple self-care and preventative measures can help manage sinus infections and reduce the risk of future episodes. To manage symptoms at home, individuals can use saline nasal rinses or sprays to keep the nasal passages moist, apply warm compresses to the face to relieve pain and pressure, and stay hydrated. Strategies for preventing future sinus infections include avoiding known allergens, practising good hand hygiene, and quitting smoking.
While self-care measures can be effective in many cases, knowing when to seek medical attention is crucial. If symptoms persist or recur despite home remedies, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Ongoing symptoms may indicate the need for further evaluation or a change in treatment approach. Recurrent sinus infections may require a more thorough investigation to identify underlying factors contributing to the repeated infections.

Conclusion  

Sinus infections can significantly impact one’s quality of life, but recognising the warning signs and symptoms can help prompt timely medical attention. Seeking a doctor’s evaluation is crucial when symptoms persist, worsen, or are accompanied by signs of complications. By understanding when to see a doctor and how to manage sinus infections, individuals can effectively address the condition and minimise its impact on their well-being. Remember, early intervention and appropriate treatment can lead to a faster recovery and a healthier future.

FAQs

Q: What are the symptoms of a sinus infection?
A: Common symptoms of a sinus infection include facial pain and pressure, nasal congestion, thick nasal discharge (often yellow or green), headache, fatigue, and cough. Some people may also experience a reduced sense of smell or taste.

Q: How long should I wait before seeing a doctor for a sinus infection?
A: If your symptoms persist for more than 10 days, worsen after initial improvement, or are accompanied by high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, or changes in vision, it is recommended to see a doctor promptly. These signs may indicate a more severe infection or potential complications.

Q: How can I manage a sinus infection at home?
A: While medical treatment is often necessary for sinus infections, there are some self-care measures you can try at home to alleviate symptoms. These include using saline nasal rinses or sprays to keep the nasal passages moist, applying warm compresses to the face to relieve pain and pressure, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest.

References:
https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/sinus-infection/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17701-sinusitis
https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/sinus-infection-symptoms
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-sinusitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351661

Headaches are the most common health problem yet they can be complicated than most people realize. Each headache has its own set of symptoms which can happen for unique reasons and also needs to be treated differently. There are over 150 types of headaches. But let’s focus on rhinogenic headaches. It is a major health issue that is frequently encountered in clinical practice. Diagnosing a rhinogenic explanation for headache or facial pain outside of the classic definitions of chronic, acute, and subacute sinusitis is often challenging for the practicing otolaryngologist. Contact-point headaches are clinically characterized as causing facial pain secondary to abutting mucosal contact from the lateral nasal wall to the septum. Otolaryngologists see an outsized number of patients with rhinogenic headaches. The majority of patients with this condition are males aged 10-30 years.

So, what is Rhinogenic Headache?

Rhinogenic headache may be a pain within the head and face due to the intranasal contact point. These headaches have their primary pathophysiology centered in the nose with a headache or facial pain as a result of complex neurohumoral reflexes. Acute rhinosinusitis is that associated with the most common rhinogenic headache. Most cases are caused by viral infections (up to 98%), and only 2% are complicated by bacterial sinusitis. However primary care physicians often treat sinusitis as an acute bacterial infection by prescribing antibiotic therapy and hence contributing to the onset of resistance. Rhinogenic headache is often misdiagnosed as other conditions such as migraine.

Rhinogenic pain is usually unilateral, severe, located on an equivalent side and associated with rhinogenic symptoms, and nearly always amid endoscopic and CT abnormalities. Incidental CT mucosal diseases are often noted in 30% of asymptomatic patients.

The symptoms to look out for to know if you have Rhinogenic headache.

The symptoms of Rhinogenic headache can look like any other health-related issue. Symptoms may be different for each person. They might include:

• Facial pain or pressure that gets worse while leaning forward
• Nasal congestion
• Postnasal drip
• Toothache in the upper jaw
• Fever
• Cough
• Yellowish or greenish discharge from the nose
• Pain in the upper jaw
• Headache
• Deceased smell
• Ear pressure or fullness

If you notice any combination of the above symptoms visit your ENT doctor for appropriate treatment.

Diagnosis and treatment

Rhinogenic headache can often be misdiagnosed which can then lead to improper treatment thus a detailed diagnosis is needed to identify. Once the practitioner has examined you thoroughly the treatment for the same would begin. It can be treated medically as well as surgically, both treatments have significant reduction although surgical treatment has better results.

A thorough history which incorporates elicitation of nasal congestion, symptom, facial pain, pressure, dental pain, anosmia, fever, cough, fatigue, ear fullness or pressure, precipitating factors causing the headache (head movement, stress, or cold weather after which a complete nasal endoscopy and CT scan of nose and sinuses are mandatory to make a diagnosis. Whether or not any consultation to a neurologist, allergist, or TMJ specialist has been performed, and whether or not therapy by these specialists has failed to overcome their headache. Following the history, a thorough ENT is examination is necessary with palpation of the sinuses to elicit tenderness.

Once the diagnosis has been made an aggressive medical therapy is indicated. A referral to a neurologist or TMJ specialist is encouraged as well. This is when there is no evidence or history of sinus disease on an exam or CT scan and especially there are no anatomical abnormalities. The medical therapy includes steam, hot and cold compresses, antibiotics if the sinuses have been noted, saline irrigation, analgesics, treatment of the allergy problem with steroid nasal spray, antihistamines, and leukotriene inhibitors, and time.

If the medical therapy fails then a lengthy discussion must ensue before any surgical intervention. An evaluation by a neurologist and TMJ specialist must be included for a failed medical therapy. Before the surgery full discussion of risks, benefits and alternatives is needed.

Surgery can then be performed to correct any or all of the anatomical variants that are felt to be the cause of the headache. If there is indeed a septal spur, then septoplasty should be performed in whatever manner one prefers, be it endoscopic removal of the spur, submucosal resection, or the traditional Cottle approach. Concerning endoscopic sinus surgery, this too is extremely controversial, in particular, if on a CAT scan there is no evidence of sinus disease. A repeat CT is sometimes necessary since one CT is only a snapshot in time. If indeed there is evidence of sinus disease on CT, then the indications are more definite and one needs to address the sinuses that are involved. If there is no evidence of sinus disease, then one should not operate on the sinuses unless there has been evidence of rhinosinusitis on history and exam.

So if you are experiencing the symptoms don’t ignore them and visit the doctor. The sooner you treat it the better. With proper diagnosis and treatment, it will be gone for good.

Headaches are one of the most prevalent health conditions faced by humans. There are many different types of headaches, with sinus headaches and migraines being the most common ones. The two are often misdiagnosed as both migraine and sinus headaches have similar symptoms such as runny nose and tenderness in the cheeks and forehead. This makes it hard to differentiate between the two. To understand the differences between the two, let us get an overview of sinus headaches and migraines, along with their characteristics.

Sinus Headache

Sinus headaches are characterized by the deep and constant pain in your sinuses and surrounding areas – eyes, cheeks, nose, and forehead. The pain comes with a throbbing sensation, and this is caused when there is an inflammation in the sinuses and the nasal passages. Other indicators, such as runny nose, fever, ear block, and a swollen face, also accompany the sinus headaches. Sinus headache is usually a symptom of sinusitis (sinus infection).

In sinusitis, the sinuses become inflamed, blocking the nasal passages. Healthy sinuses are filled with air, and the fluid buildup within the sinuses causes swelling in the nasal cavity. This can be caused due to viral/bacterial infections or seasonal allergies that last for an extended period.

Symptoms of Sinus Headache

• Pain/pressure in the forehead and cheeks
• Increasing pain on bending forward or lying down
• Runny/stuffy nose
• Tiredness
• Fever

Risk Factors of Sinus Headache

• Seasonal allergies
• Common cold
• Ear infection
• Nasal polyps
• Deviated Nasal Septum
• Weak immune system
• Previous history of sinus headaches
• Family history of migraines/sinus headaches

Migraine

Migraine causes severe, throbbing pain on one side of the head. The pain is more like a pulsing sensation in the head, often accompanied by nausea, photosensitivity, and sensitivity to sound. A migraine attack can last from a few hours to several days, depending on the severity of it, and it may also interfere with one’s daily activities.

A warning symptom, commonly known as an aura occurs before or during the headache. This can include flashes of light, blind spots, a tingling sensation on one side of the face or limb, and speech difficulty.

Symptoms of Migraine

There are four stages of a migraine attack – prodrome, aura, attack, and post-drome. However, not everyone goes to all four stages. The most common symptoms during each stage are:

• Prodrome
• Constipation
• Mood swings
• Food cravings
• Stiffness in the neck
• Frequent yawning
• Aura
• Blind spots
• Loss of vision
• Stinging sensation in the limbs
• The feeling of numbness on one side of the body
• Speech difficulty
• Attack
• Immense pain on one side of the head
• Throbbing ache
• Photosensitivity
• Sensitivity to sound
• Nausea
• Post-drome
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Sudden pain while moving the head

Migraine Risk Factors

• Family history of migraines
• Age (Migraine often occurs first during adolescence and peaks during the 30s)
• Hormonal changes
• Skipping meals
• Smoking
• Depression or anxiety
• Alcohol abuse

How can you differentiate between a Sinus Headache and a Migraine?

According to research, many people diagnosed with sinus headaches are usually experiencing a migraine attack. While telling the two conditions apart, the most important factors to consider are the symptoms and the timing, based on which the right treatment is given.

While some of the common symptoms of both sinus headaches and migraines include a running nose, watery eyes, and tenderness/pressure on the forehead, various other symptoms set them apart.

In case of a sinus headache, the mucus discharge will be yellowish, while the drainage will be clear in case of a migraine. Sinus headaches are often accompanied by fever and bad breath, while a migraine may cause nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and sensitivity to light. Women are much more prone to migraine attacks as compared to men.

Apart from the symptoms, it is important to note the timing of the headache. If the headache occurs after infections such as the common cold or flu, or after allergic reactions, it is most likely to be a sinus headache. However, if the headache occurs after consuming certain foods/alcohol, highly stressful situations, skipping a meal, insomnia, or other lifestyle-related factors, it is a migraine attack.

To diagnose a sinus headache or migraine, your doctor will ask you specific questions related to your headaches such as the frequency at which they occur, the symptoms you experience, the timing/triggers, and the family history. The doctor may also suggest physical examination, blood tests, or imaging tests for accurate diagnosis.

Treatment for sinus headache/sinusitis includes self-care measures such as steam inhalation, usage of nasal wash, nasal irrigation, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. If the condition is severe, the doctor might prescribe corticosteroids, antibiotics, or surgery.

The treatment for migraine attacks is divided into two – acute treatment and preventive treatment. The acute treatment aims at easing the symptoms to provide relief such as moving to a cool and darkroom, cold compress, fluid consumption, OTC pain relievers, and anti-nausea medications. Preventive treatment includes various lifestyle changes such as a regular exercise regime, stress management, regular sleep schedule, avoiding exposure to triggers, and more.

Be it sinus headache or migraine attacks, the most important step towards nipping it in the bud is to be aware of the symptoms and approach your healthcare provider for the right diagnosis. Though treatment methods are available to relieve the symptoms, one can be mindful of the risk factors and avoid exposure to triggers, for prevention is better than cure!